The design of a bathroom must account for the use of both hot and cold water, in significant quantities, for cleaning the human body. The water is also used for solid and liquid human waste to a sewer or septic tank. Water may be splashed on the walls and floor, and hot humid air may cause condensation on cold surfaces.
Walk in Bathtubs with outward swing doors can be more compact (holding about the same volume of water as a regular bathtub) and allow for emergency access or exit. There is no fear of the door seal allowing water to leak in either inward or outward swing doors.
A low-level access step is essential as is some form of built-in seat as part of a walk-in bathtub The addition of a shower curtain around the tub will make the walk in bathtub into a shower and bars or rails can be added to make the bathtub accessible for those with disabilities and for seniors.
In plumbing, a sink is a bowl-shaped fixture, usually made of porcelain (or, especially in the kitchen, stainless steel), that is used for washing hands or small objects such as dishes, nylons, socks or underwear. Old sinks were often made of enameled steel or cast iron.
Until recently, most bathtubs were roughly rectangular in shape but with the advent of acrylic thermoformed baths, more and more shapes are becoming available. Bathtubs are typically white in color although many other colors can be found.
Steam showers have become a more common bathroom fixture in recent years, primarily due to technical innovations resulting in lower costs, along with an overall increase in the appearance of luxury spa products in the bathrooms of middle and high income families.
In addition to acting as a normal shower, a steam shower produces water vapor using a humidifying steam generator. These types of showers provide a pleasant bathing experience that is becoming more and more popular in many countries.
Sinks generally have faucets, usually cold and hot, and a drain. When a sink becomes stopped-up or clogged, a person will often resort to use of chemical drain cleaner or a plunger.
A Belfast sink is a large ceramic sink with a traditional appearance, often set under work surfaces. An automatic sink is a sink fitted in a public restroom that is motion-sensored and detects motion beneath its surface.